But Gus Poyet will be hoping his team can take heart from that fixture last term, which was part of a remarkable run to top-flight safety, as well as Burnley’s recent result against the Sky Blues of that same scoreline.

The Black Cats last beat City last season, at the Stadium of Light, and away against them in the old Division 1 in 1998, both by 1-0. They are, therefore, 12/1 chances for victory and 45/1 by that scoreline. Sunderland have also kept four consecutive clean sheets on the road, and are 12/1 to not concede again.

A win may be all the more possible as the champions are still without star strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko. However, they do have the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva, who have stepped up into their colleagues’ scoring shoes in their absence, and both have netted against Sunderland before. They are both evens to get a goal again anytime.

Stevan Jovetic is available to start. The Montenegrin was on target this term against the Black Cats in his side’s 4-1 away win, and is odds-on at 10/11 to score again, and 4/1 for two or more.

For the visitors, they will be hoping Connor Wickham can carry on his impressive run against City. The English forward has three goals in his last two games against them, and is an enticing 5/1 shout in the anytime market.

Besides Aguero and Dzeko, Manuel Pellegrini has no new injury issues, but Sunderland will be without Patrick van Aanholt and Anthony Reveillere once more. Sebastian Larsson, meanwhile, could feature.